Richard V Stevens III

I am a military officer who was falsely accused of sexual assault. With the allegations being completely false and some very clear motives to fabricate from the accuser, I was sure that the government would quickly recognize these claims were clearly false and let me move on with my career.  I was co...mpletely wrong... As the investigation continued I started to quickly realize that you are ‘guilty until proven innocent’ with respect to sexual assault allegations in the military. I felt as if my branch that I served faithfully for years quickly abandoned me and chose to take the word of an individual with several documented integrity issues.  As I started to realize the severity of the situation and the investigating agencies willingness to conduct a biased investigation in order to collaborate an almost inconceivable narrative, I began my search for legal representation. I had consultations with over a dozen attorneys. I read reviews, case results, bios, strategies, and talked to everyone from high profile costly attorneys with lavish social media accounts, to the newest firms specializing in court martial defense. Ultimately, I stumbled across Mr. Stevens' blog. I decided to give him a call. First impressions are everything and what I can tell you is that my first impression of Mr. Stevens was that he is the guy I can put my trust in. During the consultation, I did not feel rushed like I did with others. I did not feel like I had to cash a check at that moment in order to get some ‘real advice.’ I felt as if I was talking to a friend that was giving just the right amount of guidance for that stage of the game. Mr. Stevens tactfully gave me a ‘reality check’  and  incredibly sound counsel.  His knowledge of the system is unparalleled. From consultation to hiring, I was continuously amazed at his ability to identify the intricacies of the system and how to navigate around or even through them. In my opinion, Rich knows the system better than those who run it. The investigation phase was very long. I was optimistic in terms of timeline and the 'process' that would prove my innocence. However, I was continuously let down. Mr. Stevens was able to answer a lot of the questions for me during our long waits. I can’t count how many times I look back now and can say “wow Rich was right again.” One thing I like about Rich is that he will always give you an answer or advice based on FACTS. He doesn’t tell you what you want to hear. He will tell you what you NEED to hear. When it came to questions with established facts his answers were spot on and almost seem like ‘insider information.' When it came to subjective questions about the case itself, theories, strategy, etc. Rich was always extremely calculated and answered based on the information available. During the investigation phase, Rich conducted his own investigation. I was amazed at his attention to detail and meticulousness. It was incredibly unbiased and in my opinion he conducted a superior investigation compared to the government. As we began to prepare for my defense “new information came to light” and the complainant decided not to participate and dropped their false allegations. One thing that gave me a little peace of mind at night was that Rich was on my side. An acquaintance familiar with the inner circles of the military justice system asked who I decided to have represent me. I told them “Mr. Richard V. Stevens, have you heard of him?” They just smiled and replied “I know Rich… he is the best of the best.”  No matter how early it is in your situation, speak to no one. In today’s culture a single accusation (no matter how ridiculous) will be taken as truth by the government as you find yourself preparing for a GCM. Mr. Stevens WILL prepare you for what you are going to face. He guided me through the most difficult time of my life with the utmost professionalism with the compassion of a friend.